Refurbished Shuffle -- is it worth the "risk"?

[shawbeg]

An Apple refurb Shuffle is only $10 less than a new one. My kids want to give their Dad a Shuffle purchased with their own money, so the $10 would be worth it to them, I think. But, what about any risk. It is, after all, *only* $10.

[cwtnospam]

Since the Shuffle doesn't have a hard drive, it's basically going to work or not. As long as it works and looks good when you get it, it should be fine. I think they still include the warranty too, but double check.

[styrafome]

There is only one risk as far as I'm concerned. How old is the refurb and how much was it played. Lithium-ion batteries have a limited lifespan and cannot be replaced in the shuffle, so if the battery has a problem, it could be regrettable. But if it's an Apple refurb, it should come with a full Apple warranty, right?

If it's the current generation shuffle, chances are it isn't too old and as a simple gift it would probably be worth doing. I love my shuffle!

[shawbeg]

There is only one risk as far as I'm concerned. How old is the refurb and how much was it played. Lithium-ion batteries have a limited lifespan and cannot be replaced in the shuffle, so if the battery has a problem, it could be regrettable. But if it's an Apple refurb, it should come with a full Apple warranty, right?

If it's the current generation shuffle, chances are it isn't too old and as a simple gift it would probably be worth doing. I love my shuffle!

You are correct, and Apple refurb comes with a one-year warranty. Forgive my ignorance, but what is the "current generation" shuffle? Is it the 2GB?

[ThreeDee]

I have to say, Apple's refurbs aren't bad at all. I haven't personally purchased anything from Apple recently, but I do know one person with a refurb iMac, and another with a refurb iPod Classic, and they both seem to be running perfectly. I don't think you have to worry about buying refurbs from Apple.

Oh, and I found this on the Apple iPod refurb page. It cycles around with other images, so I posted it here:
http://store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Images/lm_tile_refurbipod.jpg

So battery shouldn't be an issue. Nor should scratch marks or other damages on the case. Or the warranty.

I think the only thing really different about the "Current generation" and the "Last generation" are the colors. The "last" are in pastel colors, and the "current" are 'rainbow' colors.

[shawbeg]

I have to say, Apple's refurbs aren't bad at all. I haven't personally purchased anything from Apple recently, but I do know one person with a refurb iMac, and another with a refurb iPod Classic, and they both seem to be running perfectly. I don't think you have to worry about buying refurbs from Apple.

Oh, and I found this on the Apple iPod refurb page. It cycles around with other images, so I posted it here:
http://store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Images/lm_tile_refurbipod.jpg

So battery shouldn't be an issue. Nor should scratch marks or other damages on the case. Or the warranty.

I think the only thing really different about the "Current generation" and the "Last generation" are the colors. The "last" are in pastel colors, and the "current" are 'rainbow' colors.


So, in a refurb situation, the battery IS replaceable? That would be good. And, if that's the case, I wouldn't have to worry about which generation, right?

[cwtnospam]

So, in a refurb situation, the battery IS replaceable?
Has been replaced ≠ replaceable. ;)

[shawbeg]

Has been replaced ≠ replaceable. ;)


I didn't word that very well, but I was thinking what you wrote. :D I'll try again.

In a refurb situation, the battery would have already been replaced, so I wouldn't need to worry about which generation. Is that right?

[ThreeDee]

Yep, because the batteries are new in all refurb iPods, the only thing really different between the Shuffles is the color of the shell.

So I'm pretty sure you don't need to worry about which generation you get.

[jhillestad]

Apple refurbs are not truly tested very well - I got burned :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR7_klwf390

[NaOH]

I don't know if jhillestad's experience is indicative of all Apple refurbished products (as his/her comment implies).

My MacBook Pro, iPhone, iPod Nano, and Airport Extreme were all purchased refurbished, and any problems I had with them had no clear correlation with being refurbs. Of those 4 products, all looked perfect except for a minor nick on the MacBook Pro. I have had these products now for anywhere from 30 months to 17 months and they're all in use as I'm typing this.

I did, though, buy a factory-fresh PowerBook 9 years ago that had serious problems upon the first startup. Does that mean Apple manufacturing is not reliable? To me it was no big deal, I had the unit repaired and returned to me within 3 days, and, in truth, that machine is still in use by me to this day.

While I don't know your husband, if he would have no issue with a refurb, and your children would benefit to save the money, then I think it's a safe move. As a bonus, should the device have a major manufacturing failure during the warranty period, Apple will very likely replace the Shuffle, in which case your husband will receive a brand-new one.